Safety apparatus for multiple car elevators



Oct. 9, 1934. G. A. HALFVARSON I SAFETY APPARATUS FOR MULTIPLE CAR ELEVATORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1933 INVENTOR Guszaffl HaZfi/czrswz v ATT NEY Oct. 9, 1934. s. A. HALFVARSON 1,975,495 I SAFETY APPARATUS FOR MULTIPLE CAR ELEVATORS Filed Aug. 5, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATT EY Gustaf/1 Hal/21a 3072. I BY Oct. 9, 1934. e. A. HALFVARSON SAFETY APPARATUS FOR MULTIPLE CAR ELEVATORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 5, 1933 INVENTOR Gustaf/l. Hal/'Iwrson.

Oct. 9, 1934. G. A. HALFVARSON SAFETY APPARATUS FOR MULTIPLE GAR ELEVATORS 5 Sheets-Shet 5 Filed Aug. 5, 1935 Patented Oct. 9, 1934 PATENT QFFICE SAFETY APPARATUS FOR MULTIPLE A" ELEVATORS Gustaf A. Halfvarson, Chicago,

Ill., acsignor to Westinghouse Electric Elevator Company, Chi f v cago, 111., a corporation of Illinois 7 Application August 5, 1933, Serial No. 683,809

12 Claims.

My invention relates to safety apparatus for elevator systems in which two or more cars are operated in one hatehway.

One object of my invention is to prevent ele vator cars, in a single hatchway from. approaching dangerously close to each other.-

Another object of my invention is to prevent one car from overtaking and plunging into another car in the same hatchway.

A further objectof my invention is to provide for reducing the tripping speed of the safety governor on a car when that car follows another car too closeh'.

It is also an object of my invention to provide .for slowing down the speed of the cars as they approach their landing terminals.

Other objects will, in part, be obvious, andwill, in part, appear hereinafter. For an illustration of one of the many forms my invention may take, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which: s

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an elevator system provided with two cars for operation in onehatchway and having safety apparatus therefor embodying my invention;

Figs 2 is an enlarged view, in front elevation, the safety mechanism shown at the top of Fig. 1 for operating the safety devices on the elevator cars;

Figs 3 is an enlarged view taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2, in the nature of a top plan view showing in detail the mechanism operated by the elevator cars for regulating the operation of the safety governor-s in accordance with the distance between the cars or the nearness of the cars to their terminals;

.Fig. 4 is an enlarged view taken on the line IV--IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line V--V of Fig.

4, the cover shown on the regulating mechanism in Fig. 2 being added to facilitate understanding the drawings; and, A

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5 showing a transverse section of one of the directional the regulating mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 have illustrated 'two elevator cars A and B disposed for operation in :a single hatchway repre- 50 sented by the walls 10 and 11. The cars are suspended for operation in the usual manner by a plurality of cables I2, 13 and 14, only small portions of which are shown.

In order to provide for the safe operation of the :car A, a safety device 15 is attached to its jaws 34 disposed for engagement with the safety clutches associated with under frame 16. safety device may be of any suitable construction, such is shown- Patent .No. 1,598,065, James. Dunlap, dated August 13, 1926. The safety device 15 is comectedfor operation by a tail rope 1'? attached to a to safety rope 18 which passes under a pulley 1.9 at the lower end of the shaft and extends upwardly over a governor sheave 20. As shown in Fig 2, the sheave 20 ismounted on a frame 21, supported by a base 22.

Attached to the shaft 23 of the sheave is a gear wheel24 disposed to mesh with a gear wheel 25 mounted on a vertical shaft 26. The upper portion of the shaft 26 is provided with a. pair of pivotally mounted governor balls 2'7. A pair of arms 28 connect the governor balls to a collar 29 which is connected by a plurality of levers 31 32, 33 and 33a to a pair of gripping rope 18. v

- The safetyrope 18 is connected to and driven by the car by means of a releasable minnie ball and spring clip 35. Therefore, as the car moves up and down in the shaft, the safety rope is operated to rotate the sheave 20 and so thereby rotate the governor balls 27. When the governor balls are driven beyond a predetermined speed the centrifugal force exerted upon them causes them to pull upwardly on the arms 28, thereby raising the sleeve 29 and operating the levers 31, 32, .33 and 33a to cause the jaws 34 to grip the safety rope and bring it to a stop. When the safety rope 18 stops, continued. movement of the car will cause the releasable minnie bal 35 to pull loose from its'holder and also exert a pull upon the tail rope 17,. thereby" operating the safety device 15 to stop the Mounted upon the upper portion of the governor shaft 26 is a compressible sprm 36;, the lower end of winch rests against the collar 29 and the upper end of which rests against an adjustable nut 37, in such manner as to exert a downward pull on the collar in opposition to the upward puli exerted by the centrifugal torce of the governor The. nut 37 may be ro- 106 tated to so adjust the force of the spring that the governor balls 2? will operate the gripping jaws 34 at the desired predetermined speed.

A weight 38 is mounted on the upper end of the jaw-operating lever 33a to exert an additional pressu on the jaws 34 when the governor is tripped by excessive speed of the car. A hook 39 is mounted the linkor lever 32 in such position as to engage the upper portion of the lever 33a and prevent its operation by the weight 38 until such a time as the governor is tripped by the car exceeding the predetermined speed. 7

A lost-motion clutch 30 is interposed between the lever 33 and the lever 33a to permit a predetermined upward; movement. of the lever 33 so that the hook 39 will release the lever 33a before force is applied to that lever to tilt it and the weight 38 into safety-rope grabbing position.

The car B is also provided. with a safety device 41 for operation by'a t'ail'rope 42 and a safety rope 43. The safety rope is connected to the car sheave 46, as shown in Fig. 2, drives a ball governor 48 in the'same manner as that:de-'

scribed for car A. A collar 56 on the governor 48 controls a pair ofjaws 49 and 50 for gripping the'safety rope'43 to stop the car Bwhen it descends too rapidlyor when it"approaches the lower terminalatpxcessive speed.

-Inadditionto'the gripping jaws 49 and 50, the'ba'll governor 48 isprovided with a pair of cooperating gripping ja ws'"5 1--and52 for grip-" ping the safetyrope48 tooperate the safety device 41 to stop car- 3- when it ascends too rapidly or approaches too closelyto car A- as the gripping jaws '51 and 52- are operated by the ball governor 48 in the 'same manner as the gripping jaws '34- are operated by theball governor 27 'connected with'car A.

' Although the governors 2-7 and 48 will operate the safety devices lfi and 4l-to stop the cars A 'and 'B when they'op'erate above predeterminedsafe speeds, it is "desirable-to have-some additional's'a'fetymeans which will cause the safety devices to stop the cars before they get danger ously' closetogether or if they approach their terminal stations at unsafe's'peeds. -In order to secure this additional protection, Iihave provided a regulator which i's-coupled tothe-gove'rn'ors" 27 and 48 and is operated by the cars A and B in accordance With their distance from each' other and from the terminal stations. The device-60 effects this additional protection "by lowering the predetermined trip I ping speeds of the governors in accordance with to each other or to the nearness of the 'cars their terminal-stations- 1 "The car A operates part oftheregulator 60 by "apair 'offdriving' tapes '61. These driving suitable rings 62' to the under frameof the car A and extend downwardly; and around an idler the bottom of the hatchway '11; thence upwardly and around a driving wheel 64 in the regulating deVice ahd thence downwardly to the top-of car A lJOiWhlChthGY are attached by means .of

suitable rings '65." Hence, as the car moves up and- .down the shaft; .the' driving tapes 61 rotate thedriving." wheel 64 in accordance, with .the

" speedzof the car and the direction in which it isrmoving."

I The carB isconnected to the regulating device -60 in a similar manner-as-by apair of driving tapes--67 whichare secured'to the underframe of.;thecar by suitable: rings 68 and which pass under an-idlergpulleyzg'lfl at the lower end of the-shaft. thence upwardly and around'driving wheelfll constituting apart of, the regulat-v ing--mechanism 60 and thence back to they top 1 of -car Bto which they are attached by rings B by a releasable minnie ball 44' and extends around a pulley 45. at the lower end of the hatchway and thence around a governor sheave 46 at the top of the hatchway. The v pulley 63 at able roller bearings '77 and 78, slidably mounted therein. The housings are supported by cross members 79 and 80 which constitute a portion of the frame 81 of the regulating device 60.

A worm gear 83 is disposed upon and aflixed to the driving shaft 73 in position to engage and drive a' Worm gear wheel 84. The worm wheel .84'is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 85, the

ends of which are suitably supported in a pair of housings 86 and 87 mounted in vertically disposed channel irons 88 and 89 constituting a; portion of the frame 81. As the tapes 61 of car A rotate the driving Wheel 64, the shaft 73 and the worm 83cause the worm wheel 84 to rotate accordingly. V i i The drive wheel 71 is mounted upon and firmlyaflixed to a drive shaft 91 by means of a set screw 92. The shaft 91 is rotatably. and slidably disposed in'a pair of housings 93 and 94 in the same manner as the shaft 73' is mounted in the housings 75 and 76. 1 A worm'96 is firmly afiixed upon the driving shaft 91in position to engage and operate a worm/wheel 97 which is rotatably mounted'upon the shaft beside the worm wheel 84. As'the driving tapes. 67 of car B rotate the driving wheel 71, the shaft'91 and the worm 96 cause the'worm'wheel 97 to rotate accordingly. c I

Hence it is seen that the. gear Wheels 614 and 71 are rotated in side by side relation upon the common shaft 85 in accordance with the movements of thecars. In providing for the safe operation ofthe cars, I utilize the side-by-side operation of the gearwheels by mounting a pair of cooperating lugsv 100-and 101 upon the adjacent faces of. the wheels in such position that theilugs will lock and prevent further rotation of one 'orboth of the'wheels. when the cars come too close together.

,ZThe lug .100 is attached to the wheel 84 by means of suitable bolts 102. and the lug 101 to the wheel 97 by bolts 103. The luglOO is also provided with a setsscrew 104, by means of which the engagement between the lugs may be readily adjusted. When the cars approach within a predetermined distance of each'other the.

rotation of the gear wheels causesthe lugs 100 and, 101 to engagefleach other and lock, and. any

further closer movement of the cars will cause one or both of the drive shafts to move outward? ly-by reason of the forceapplied by the cars to the worm gears 83 and 96. .For instance, when car A approaches car B,- the worm 83, will continue to be rotated by thecar A and if the gear One, arm of the lever is disposed in engagement with the movable cap 106 and its other end is pivotally connected to a link and lever mechanism come prising a link 110, a resilient connector 111, a connecting rod 112 and a bell crank lever 113. The left-hand end of the lever 113 is pivotally connected to the collar 29 on the ballgovernor 27. Hence when the shaft 73 is forced to the right by car A approaching car 13 too closely, it moves the cap 106 outwardly, thereby applying force to the lever 108, causing it to pull on the link and lever connection 110, 111, 112 and 113 to lift the collar 29 against the force of the spring 36 thus lowering the predetermined trip ping speed of the ball governor 2'1.

The resilient connector 111 disposed in the chain of levers and links is provided for cushioning the force applied by the shaft 73 to the governor sleeve 29 and comprises a casing 115 attached by welding to the connecting rod 112, a screw-threaded cap 116 disposed on the casing and a compressible spring 11'! disposed between a collar 118 onthe link 110 and the cap 116. The collar 118 is retained in position by a pin 119. If the lever 108 applies force too suddenly to the link 110, the spring 117 compresses to a certain degree and thereby applies a cushioned force to the link 112 for the purpose of moving the governor collar 29 upwardly in an easy man ner without jerking it. A spacing sleeve 99 is welded to the cap 116 in position to limit the distance the spring 117 may be compressed and thereby provide for positive action of the rod 112 after a predetermined amount of cushioning;

When the car B is approaching the car A and the wheel 9'1; is locked, the continued rotation of the worm 96 causes the shaft 91 to slide to the right, thereby moving outwardly a cap 120 slidably disposed in a casing 121. A lever 122 is pivotally mounted adjacent to the cap 120. One end of the lever 122 is disposed in engagement with the cap 120 and the other end is pivotally connected to a link and lever! mechanism for raising the collar 56 on the ball governor 48. The link and lever mechanism comprises a link 123, a cushion connector 124, a link 125 and a bell crank lever 126 which operate in the same manner as that described in connection with car A. When the shaft 91 moves outwardly, it operates the lever 122, thereby raising the governor collar 56 and thus lowering the tripping speed of the ball governor 48.

When both carsare approaching each other and come dangerously close together, it is desirable to have the safety set on each car, but when it is a matter of one car overtaking another, it is desirable to have the safety set on only the following car, permitting the leading car to move away from the following car. In order to provide for this latter operation, directional clutches 130 and 131 are mounted on the left-hand ends of the slidable shafts 73 and 91 to control the slidable movements of the shafts in accordance with the direction of movement of the cars.

The directional clutch 131 comprises a clutch collar 132 rotatably mounted on the shaft 91, frictional washers 133 disposed on the shaft adjacent to the clutch collar 132, a compressible spring 134 concentric to the shaft '73 and disposed between the friction washers 133 and a washer 135 held in place by a pair of nuts 136. The spring 134 keeps the frictional washers 133 in constant engagement with the collar 132, thereby pressing the clutch collar against a.

shoulder 137 on the end of the shaft and biasing the collar to rotate with the shaft.

However, the rotation of the clutch collar with the shaft is limited by a pair of projecting members 138 and 139 mounted upon the frame 81 parallel to the shaft 91 in such position that the outerends are disposed respectively in peripheral slots 14!) and 141 in the clutch member 132' (see Figs. 4 and 6). These slots are of sufiicient length to permit the clutch collar to f rotate with the shaft 91 through only a short distance, at the ends of which the outer ends of the projecting members 138 and 139 impinge against the end shoulders of the slots and thereby prevent further rotation of the collar.

As shown, the clutch member 132 is also provided with longitudinal slots 142 and 143 opening into the peripheral slots 141 and 140. It will be noted that the longitudinal slots 142 and 143 and the peripheral slots 141 and are so disposed that with car B going upward and worm shaft 91 rotating in the direction shown by the arrow 145, the longitudinal slots 142 and 143 are always opposite the free ends of the projecting ,members 139 and 138, and, therefore, the worm shaft 91 can slide to the right at any timeforce is applied to it by action of the worm 96 and the worm Wheel 97.

On the other hand, when car B is going downward, the ends of {the projecting members 139 and 138 are disposed in the peripheral slots 141 and 140 and, therefore, the worm shaft 91 can: not slide to the right while car B is descending because the ends of the projecting members 139 and 138 willimpinge against the clutch collar 132 and thereby prevent movement of the shaft.

The clutch 130 on the worm shaft, 73 is the same as the clutch 131 just described for car B, except that theperipheral slots 176 which cooperate with the projecting members 146 and 147 are turned in a reversed direction so that when car A is going up, the ends of the projecting members 146 and 147 will impinge against the clutch'collar and prevent the worm shaft 73 from moving to the right; but when car A is going down, the projecting members 146 and 147 are opposite the-longitudinal slots 148 and the worm shaft 73 is free to move to the right, because the projecting members may then pass through the slots 148.

In addition to the safety, device for stopping, car A, an electrical switch 150 is connected to and operated by the link 32 connected to the ball governor 27. This switch is so connected in the control circuit (not shown) for car A'that the opening of the switch will operate to start a normal slow-down of the car hoisting motor (not shown) and thereby decelerate the car.

A second switch 150 is connected to and operated by the link 32. This switch is arranged to open after switch 150 upon a continued upward movement of the link 32 andit is so connected in the car control circuit as to connect the emergency stopping circuit when operated.

Therefore, if car A exceeds its predetermined speed at any time, its governor first opens the switch 150 to decelerate the car. Then, if the speed fails to decrease, it next opens the switch 150 to operate the emergency stopping circuit; and if the speed still fails to decrease, the governor operates the car safety 15 to stop the car.

The ball governor 48 for car B is also provided with a switch 151 and a switch 151 connected to the link 152 and a switch 153 and a switch 153 connected to the link 54. The

switches 151 and 153 are so connected in .the control circuit of car Bthat if .car B exceeds its predetermined speed .or approaches its terminal at too high a rate of speed,.these switches will open to effect a normal slowdown of the motor (not. shown) for car 13. i- The switches '151 'and'153 are so connected in the control circuit of car B asto eifect'application of the emergency stopping circuit of that. car when they are opened. Hence, if. car B exceeds its predetermined speed or approaches its terminal at too high arate of speed, its governor will first open switch 151 or :153 to dece'lerate the car. 151 or 153*. opens to apply the emergency stopping circuit, and if .the speed still fails to decrease, the governor trips the car safety 41 to stop the car.

In order to prevent the cars from approaching their terminals at such high rates of speed as will prevent safely. stopping them at the terminals, additional means are provided for also lowering the predetermined tripping speed of the safety governors when the cars approach their terminals, in the same manner as when they approach too closely to eachother.

.The additional terminal safetymeans for car A comprises a lug 154 mounted by bolts 155 upon the outer face of the worm wheel 84in such manner that as car A nears its upper terminal, the lug-154 will strike the free end of a lever .156 pivotallymountedby a bolt 156 upon a portion of the frame 81 of the regulating device. The other end' of the lever 156 is connected by a link 157 andv a pair of levers 158 and 159 to the pull rod 110 in much the same manner as the lever 108 is connected thereto (see Fig. 3).

- When the lug 154' strikes the lever- 156, it exerts a pull on the rod 110 to raise the collar 29 of the ball governor 27 and thereby lower the predetermined tripping speed of the governor. If the speed continues, the governor first opens the switch 150 to decelerate the hoisting motor. If the speed still continues, the switch 150* opens to apply the emergency stopping circuit, and upon continued highspeed, the governor operates the safety jaws 34 to stop the car.

A set screw 160 is mounted in the lug 154 for the purpose of permitting adjustment of the terminal safety means. 1

The terminal safetymeans for car B includes a lug 161 mounted upon the outer face of the worm wheel 97. The lug is so mounted a on the worm wheel that it will, as car B'comes within a predetermined distance of its terminal, strike the-free end of a lever 162 pivotally mounted by a-bolt 163 upon a portion of the frame 81." The other end of the lever 162 is connected by a link 164, a lever 165 and a link 166 to the pull rod 123. A'set screw 167 is disposed in the lug 161' to permit accurate adjustment of the poin'tof engagement between the lug and the lever. With this means, as car B approaches the; lower terminal the lug 161 engagesand moves the lever 162 to lower the predetermined tripping speed of, the safety governor 48 for car B. If the speed of the car does not decrease, the governor first opens the decelerating switch 151 and next the emergency circuit switch 151 and if the speed still fails to decrease, the governor operates to trip the safety device 41 thereby bringing the car to a positive stop. I

If the speed .fails todecrease, theswitch As shown in;Fi'g. 4', the worm shaft 73 is provided with. a shoulder 180 thatengages the ball bearing 77 in the housing and. limits the sliding movementof the. shaft to the left. Ordinarily the shaft will remain in this position while the cars are operatingnormally and it will also return to this .positionafter being forced to the right in a safety operation, by reason of the force of the governor spring etc. However, it is advisable to provide additional means for resetting the shaft after a safety operation. This additional meanscomprises a spring 181 mounted concentric with; the shaft and disposed 'under compression between a washer 182 on'the outer end of the shaft and a washer 183 disposedadjacent to the housing 75. The washer .182 iszheld in position by a pair of screw-threaded 'nuts. 184 on the end of the shaft. It will thus be seen that the spring 181 exerts a biasing pressure upon the shaft 73 which tends to keep it in its normal position and which tends to reset the shaft after a safety operation. The worm shaft 91 is also provided with a resetting or biasing spring 181a disposed between the washer 135 and a washer 185, which spring tends to' keep the shaft in its normal position and causes it to reset after a safety operation. 1

An assumed operation of the safety mechanismis as follows: Assuming the two cars A and B are approaching each other and come so close that they are within what may be termed a blocking zone. As car A descends it operates the driving tapes 61 thereby rotating the driving wheel 64 and through it the shaft 73 in the direction shown by the arrow'170 in Fig. 4. The rotation of the shaft rotates the worm 83 and through it. the worm "wheel 84 in the direction shown by the arrows 171 in Fig. '4 and 1710. in

At the same time, car B in ascending operates its driving tapes 67 to rotate the driving wheel 71 and through it the shaft 91 in the direction shown by the. arrow 145 in Fig. 4. Rotation of the shaft 91"rotates the worm. 96 and through it the worm wheel 97 in the-direction shown by the arrow 172 in Fig.3. -The rotationof the worm wheels 84 and 97 inyoppositev directions causes the lugs 100 and 101 .to meet and lock thereby preventing furtherrotation of the worm wheels when the cars approach to within a'predetermined distance of eachothen. i

Inasmuch as-car A is moving downwardly, the end projecting members 146 and 147 of the clutch 130 are opposite the open slots 148,*thereby permitting the shaft 73 to slide to the right. Inasmuch as car B is moving upwardly, the end projecting members 138 and 139 of the clutch 131 associated with the, shaft 91 are opposite the open'slots 143 and142, thereby permitting the shaft 91 to slide to the right.

Assuming that the cars A and B move still closer together, ,then the movement of car A causes the shaft 73 to continue its rotation in the direction of the 'arrow'170 but inasmuch as the worm wheel 84 is locked by the engagement of the lugs 100 and 101, the continued rotation of the shaft causes the worm 83 to rotate against the teeth of the worm wheel 84. and. thereby slide the shaft 73 to the, right, This sliding movement of theshaft 73 -moves the sliding cap 106 outwardly, thereby pressing outwardly on the lever, 108. This movement of the lever 108' pulls upon therod 123 and. through thespring connection 111 (seeFig. 2), the rod 112 and the lever 113 exerts an upwardv pressure on thecollar 29 of the ball governor 27, thereby lower ing. the predetermined tripping speed of the governor.

. Assuming that movement, then the continued pressure applied to the collar 29 causes the ball governor 27 to operate the lever 31 to raise the rod 32. As

the rod 32 moves upwardly, the switch 159 is first opened to decelerate the hoisting motor. Assuming that car A continues downward, then the switch 150 opens to applythe emergency stopping circuit. Assuming that car A still-continues downward, then the call governor 2'1 continues the upward movement of the rod 32 to such a point that the hook 39 releases the weight 38 and the lever 33 is operated to set the safety jaws 34 to grip the safety rope 18. The gripping of the safety rope 18 stops .its further movement whereby further downward movement of car A causes the actuationof its.

safety device 15 to bring the car to a stop.

Assuming that car B also continues its upward movement, then it operates the driving -;the shaft 91 to the. right. The sliding movement of the shaft 91 presses the sliding collar outwardly and thereby pushes against theflever 122. The resulting movement of the lever 122 operates through the pull rod 123, the connector --124, the rod and the lever 126 to raise the collar 56 for the purpose of decreasing the pre- 1 determined tripping speed of the ball governor Assuming that car B continues its upward movement, then the reduction of the tripping speed of the ball governor 48 causes its collar 56 to rise to such an extent. that it pulls upwardly upon the rod 54 and thereby. opens the switch 153 and thereby effeets'deceleration of the hoist- --ing motor (not shown) for car B.

Assuming that car B still continues its upward movement, then the rod 54 next opens the switch 153 thereby operating the emergency stopping circuit to stop the car.

Assuming now that car B still continues to move upwardly, then the ball governor collar 56 is raised still further, thus raising therod 54, which operates the gripping jaws 52 to grip the safety rope 43 and thereby. operating the safety device 41 on car B to stop that car.-

It is thus seen that if the two carsapproach each other too closely, the hoisting motors are decelerated. If the approaching movement con- I tinues, the emergency stopping circuit is rendered effective and then the approaching set to stop the cars. 7 I

Assume now that car A is moving upwardly in the shaft and that car B is following car A too closely. Under these conditions, the car A,

by means ofthe tape 61 and the drive wheel- 64, is rotating the shaft '73 in a direction opposite to the direction shown by the arrow 179 (Fig. 4). The reverse direction of the shaft '73 has caused the member 175 of the clutch to car A continues its downward;

, 41 and thereby stop car B.

Assume that car B} approachesrwithin a predetermined distance of car. A, then the upwardmovement of carB causes the shaft 91' to rotate in the direction of; the arrow and thereby, rotates the worm 96 andthefworm wheel-9T1 in the direction indicated by. the arrow, 172 as previously described. The worm ,wheels 97 and-34;.

are now rotating in the same direction in fiQ-x.

cordance with the movements of the cars but inasmuchlas on B overtaking car-,A,-;the= lug 101' on worm-wheelifl overtakes and, en a es; the lug 100 on the wormwheel 3 4 inasmuch-' as car 3 ismoving upwardly andzthe shaft 91 is rotating as shown, the end projecting mem bers 138 and 139 are-in alignment with the openings 143 and l 2-;in-th e clutch 131, therefore, the shaft 91 maymove to the right. i

Inasmuch as the shaft '73 corresponding tocar A cannot move to the right buttheshaft 91 corresponding to .car B isfree to movet the right, the movement of; car B in overtaking car A, by reason of the .-engagement, of the lug; 101 with the lug 100 'causesthewerm wheeli97t to lock against further movement.'gTherefore;

the continuedupward movement of; the; carB and the consequent rotation-of the worm 96 against the teeth of'the worm wheel 9'7 causes: the shaft 91 to slide to the right. ,This slidi-ngi movement of the shaft. 91 pushes outwardlyon;

the sliding cap 120 and thereby exerts pressure against the lever 122, which, inturn, operates the ,pull rod'123, the connector 124;, the rod 125 and the lever 126 to. raise the collar;56 of the ball governor 48. 1 Y

rotate to a point wherethe=prejectingmemben 1.4 6 rests in the peripheral slot 176, in which: position it prevents the shaft 73,-from sliding to.

The raising ofthe governor collar 56- lowers the predetermined,trippingspeed, of the 'gov.' ernor. As carB continues its :upwardapproach to-car A, continued force is applied as described to raise the collar 56 until finallytheg lever. 55:. raises the rod j 5e1, sufficiently to open;the switch 153 and thereby effectdeceleration ,of the hoist- 1 ing motor.

A further upwardlmovement of car B, raises the rod 54 to open the switch-,153 thereby 1efemergency stopping fecting the operation of the circuit of car'B.

A-still further movement of ,car B closerjatoi car A at toohigha speed, causes .the rod 54 e to rise stillfurther to a point .where it, applies the gripping jaws 52 to operate the safety device In the meantime, inasmuch asthe leading A is moving upwardlyand the shaft 73 is-locked against any-sliding movementby the clutch 130, 1

the governor 2'7 of car A is not operated buts permits that,car,;,to 'continue on its upward trip as though car-;B=were not :,nearit. 1 1

Hence itfl-is seen that whenuthe two carsirun;

withina redetermined. distance ofeach other while travelling 3 in the same direction, thejitripping speed of the. governor on the approaching. movement still continues, the safety devices are car is lowered but .the,,,1eading;car, is", left to continue itsupward, trip,, Assuming now ,that car; B ris approaching. its

lower terminal at; an unsafe rate of speed; ,-As;

the car comes within a vpredetermineddistance of the lower terminal, the lug 161.0n the worm wheel 97 engages the end of'gthe lever 162, there-x: by applyingforce through the rod 164,the lever. 165 andthe rod 166 .to the pull rod 163. .Ihe.-

force applied to; the pullrod 123-,operatesthrough shafts for lowering the speed at" which said the connector 124, the rod and the lever 1 26 to raise the governor collar 56, thereby lowering the raising of the governor sleeve 56 raises the rod 152, thereby opening the switch 151 to effect deceleration of the hoisting motor (not shown Assuming that car- B still continues at too' high'a speed, then the rod 152mm 'opens the switch 151 to effect operation of the emergency stopping circuit.

Assuming that car B continues its approach to its lower terminal at too high a speed, then the continued force applied to the governor collar 56 raises the rod 152 still further, thereby operating the gripping jaws 49 and 50, thus actuating the safety 41 to stop the car '3.

'The terminal safety means for car A oper ates in'the same manner as that for car B.

Therefore it is seen that as the lower car B approaches within a predetermined distance of the lower terminal landing and as the upper car' approaches within a predetermined distance of 25 the upper terminal landing, the'governor tripping speeds are gradually reduced to prevent the their terminals at dancars from approaching gerous speeds.

Although I have illustrated and described only one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it may be modified or changed in many respects without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 7

I- claim as my invention:

1. In a system for operating two-cars in the same hatchway, means responsive to the speed of each car for stopping that car when'it exceeds a predetermined speed, a regulator for lowering the speed at which said speed responsive-means will operate, said regulator comprising a slidable rotatable shaft associated with each car, means operably responsive to-the movement of each car for rotating the shaft associatedwiththat car in accordance with its movement, -'-a pair of cooperating movable members, one' operated by one shaft in accordance with its rotation and the other operated by the other shaft in'accordance with its rotation, coopera-- tive means mounted on said movable members and responsive to relative movement thereof for lockingthe members against further relative movement when the cars approach within a predetermined distance of each other whereby further movement of the cars toward each other effect a. slidable movement of the shafts, and

means responsive to slidable movement of the speed responsive mean'swill operate to stop the -2. In a system for operating two carsin the same hatchway, means responsive to the speed of each car for stopping that car when it exceeds a-predetermined speed, a regulator for controlling the operationof the speed responsive -;-'-means, said regulator'comprising a slidable rotatable worm shaft associated with each car,

means operably responsive tooperation of eachcar for rotating the shaft associated with that further rotation of the shafts by operation of the cars closer-toward each other will cause slidable movement of the shafts, and means responsive to slidable movement of the shafts for' lowering the speed at which said speed responsive meanswill operate to stop the cars.

3. In a system for operating two cars-in thesame hatchway, either car of which may become; the leading car and the other car the following car, means responsive to a predetermined speed' of each car for stopping that -car, a regulator for lowering the speed at which said speed responsive means will become effective to stop the cars, said regulator comprising a slidable rotatable shaft corresponding to each ar,'-'

means operably responsive to the movement of each car for rotating the shaft corresponding to that car in accordance withfits movements, a pair of cooperating movable members, one operated by one shaft in accordance with its rota-' tion and the other operated by the other shaft in accordance with its rotation, means for preventing slidable movement of one of said shafts when it is the shaft corresponding to'the'car that is leading, and locking means connected with the movable members and responsive to relative 'movement thereof when the carsare within a predetermined distance of each other for preventing further movement of the movable:

member corresponding to the following car;

whereby a further movement of the following car in the direction of the leading car will 7 cause a slidable movement of the shaft corresponding tothe following car, and means re sponsive to said slidable movement for lowering the speed at which the speed responsive means of the following car car. 7 V p d p '4. In an elevator system for operating an upper car and a'lower car in the same hatchway,

will operate to stop that means responsive to the speed of each car for; stopping that car when it exceeds a predetermined 7 speed, aregulator for controlling the speed responsive means, said regulator com'- prising a slidable rotatable shaft corresponding to each car, means operably responsive to the operation of each car for rotating the shaft;

corresponding to that car in accordance with its movement, a pair of cooperative movable members, one connected for operation-by one shaft in accordance with its rotation and the other connected for operation by the other shaft" in accordance with its rotation, means for p'reventing slidable movement of the sha ft"corre sponding to the upper 'car when that car; is; ascending, means for preventing'slidable move-1 ment of the shaft corresponding-toithe lower? car when thelower car is descending, ;means" connected with the movable ,members' for preventing relative movement thereof when the cars traveling in the same direction come within 'a'" predetermined distance of each-other whereby the following car is effected, and meansresponsive to said slidable movement of that shaft slidable movement of the shaft corresponding to of cars in the same hatchway, means responsive I to a predetermined speed of each car for de? celerating and stopping that car, a regulator for controlling the operation of the'speed responsive means, said regulator comprising a slidable ro shaft for lowering with its movement, a clutch connected to the shaft for the upper car for preventing slidable movement of that shaft when that car is as-' cending a clutch connected to the shaft "for the lower car to prevent a slidable movement of that shaft when the lower car is descending,

a pair of worm' wheels disposed to mesh one with one worm shaft and the other with the other worm shaft, means connected with the wheels for locking them movement in their direction of rotation when the cars become less than a predetermined distance apart whereby a further closer movement of the approaching car to the other car will effect a slidable movement of the shaft corresponding to the approaching car, and means responsive to the slidable movement of that the speed at which the speed responsive means for said approaching car will operate to stop that car.

6. In a system for operating an elevator car in a hatchway, means responsive to a predetermined speed of said car for decelerating it to a stop, and a regulator for controlling said speed responsive means, said regulator comprising a slidable rotatable worm shaft, means responsive to operation of the car for rotating the shaft in accordance with the movement of the car, a worm wheel disposed in mesh with the Worm shaft for operation by the rotation thereof, means responsive to the approach of the car to a terminal for preventing slidable movement of the worm shaft, whereby a further movement of the car toward said terminal effects a continued rotation of said worm wheel, and means responsive to the continued rotation of the worm wheel by the car approaching said terminal for lowering the speed at which said speed responsive means will operate.

7. In a system for operating two cars in the same hatchway, a speed governor for each car, means associated with each car and responsive to a predetermined speed of the governor of that car for decelerating it when it exceeds a predetermined speed, means associated with each car and responsive to a predetermined speed of the governor for that car for stopping it when it exceeds a predetermined speed, a safety device mounted on each car and responsive to a predetermined speed of the governor for that car for preventing its further movement when it exceeds a predetermined speed, a regulator for controlling the speed governors, said regulator comprising a slidable rotatable shaft associated with each car, means operably responsive to the movement of each car for rotating the shaft associated with that car in accordance with its movement, a pair of cooperating movable members, one operated by one shaft in accordance with its rotation and the other operated by the other shaft in accordance with its rotation, means mounted on said movable members and responsive to relative movement thereof for looking the members against further relative movement when the cars approach within a predetermined distance of each other whereby further movement of the cars toward each other effect a slidable movement of the shafts, and

the governor for that car-foragainst further relative cooperative means responsive to slidable movement of the shafts for lowering the: speed at :which said, speedgovernors will operate said decelerating, stopping. and preventing means. i

8; In a system for operating an upper car and a lower car. in the same hatchway,-a speed governor for each car, means associated with each car and'respo-nsive to a predetermined speed of" the governor of that car for decelerating it when it exceeds a predetermined speed, means associated with each car andresponsive to a predetermined speed of the. governor "for that car for {stopping' it when" it" exceeds a pre etcrmined speed, a safety device mounted on each car and responsive to a predetermined speed of preventing its further movement when it ex 'eeds a predetermined speed, a regulator for 'controlling the speed governors, saidregulator comprising a car, means operable responsive to the operation of each car for rotating the shaft corresponding to that car in accordance with its movement, a pair of cooperative movable members, one connected for operation to one shaft in accordance with its rotation and the other connectedfor operation by the other shaft in accordance with its rotation, means forpreventing slidable movementof the'shaft corresponding to the upper car when that car is ascending, means for preventing slidable movement of the shaft corresponding to the lower car when the lower car is descending, means connected with the movable members for preventing relative movement thereof when the cars traveling in the same direction come within a predetermined distance of each other whereby slidable movement of the shaft corresponding to the following car is effected, and means responsive to said slidable movement of that shaft for lowering the speed at which the speed governor for that car will operate its decelerating, stopping and preventing means.

9. In a system for operating an elevator car in a hatchway, a speed governor for the car, means responsive to a predetermined speed of the governor for decelerating the car when it exceeds a predetermined speed, means responsive to a predetermined speed of the governor for stopping the car, means responsive to a predetermined speed of the governor for preventing further movement of the car, and a regulator for controlling said governor, said regulator comprising a slidable rotatable worm shaft, means responsive to operation of the car for rotating the shaft in accordance with the movement of the car, a worm wheel disposed in mesh with the worm shaft for operation by the rotation thereof, means responsive to the approach of the car to a terminal for preventing slidable movement of the worm shaft, whereby a further movement of the car toward said terminal effects a continued rotation of said worm wheel, and means responsive to the continued rotation of the worm wheel by the car approaching said terminal for lowering the speed at which said speed responsive means will operate. i

10. In a regulator for controlling the safety devices of a pair of elevator cars operable in the same hatchway, a slidable rotatable shaft corresponding to each car, means operably responsive to the operation of each car for rotating the shaft corresponding to that car in ac-. cordance with its movements, a pair of cooperative movable members, one connected for operation by one shaft in. accordance 'with'its rota tion andthe other connected for operation by the other shaft in accordance with its rotation, means responsive to the relative movement of said members by the cars approaching. within a predetermined distance of each other forlocking the members against further relative move-v ment, whereby further movement of the. cars toward each other effects a slidable movement'ofthe shafts; and means responsive to slidable movement of the shafts for effecting operation,

' of-the safety devices to stop the cars.

M! if 11. In a regulator for controlling the" safety devices of a pair'of elevator cars operablein'the same hatchway, a slidable rotatable shaft cor-:,

responding to eachcar, means operably respone sive to the operation of each car for rotating the shaft corresponding to that ,car in accordance,

with its movements, a pair of cooperative movable members, one connected for, operation by one shaft in accordance with its rotation and the other connected for operation by the other shaft in accordance with its rotation, means responsive to the relative movement of said memv bers by the cars approaching within a predetermined distance of each other for locking the members against further relative movement whereby further movement of the cars toward each other effects a slidable movement of, the

sponsive to the operation of each car'for rotate-- ing the shaft corresponding to that car in' accordance with. its movements, a pairof coopera-v tive movable members, joneconnected for opera,-' tion, by one shaft in accordance with-its rota-' tion and the other connected foroperationby the-other shaft in accordancewith its rotation, -means responsive to the relative movement, of within; a predetermined distance of each other .for: locking the ,member's against further relative movement, whereby further (movementof the r saidcmembers by the cars approaching cars toward each other effects a slidable movement .of the shafts, means responsive to slid-t; able movement of the'shafts for effecting opera-,

tion of the safety devices to stop the cars, and a spring associated with each shaft forbiasingit to its normal position and for resetting it after a safety operation.

GUSTAF AfHALFvARsoN. 

